The Doctor from hell

[fullpin]

5 weeks into 24 week soc treatment and I can't even walk up a flight of stairs without getting dizzy. This means I can't work. Too dangerous. Go to my doctor today to talk about my latest labs and to get him to sign off on disability until I can get this straightened out and he says he can't do that because he doesn't think i'm getting dizzy because of my meds? What? He wants me to go see an ENT now. OK....fine...check out these #s

WBC 2.3 (alert)
RBC  4.43
Hemoglobin  13.1
Hematocrit    38.1
Platelets   85 (alert)

Hep C Quantitation   <43 HCV RNA not detected

The thing about this doctor is that he is impossible to talk to. Very difficult to understand because of his accent,
but what really irritates me is his attitude. Just asking a simple Question is like pulling teeth. Every time I go in there he's trying to run me out of there as fast as he can. Its not like I'm taking up alot of his time. Any questions I have could be answered in 5 min or less. Everything is a secret with this guy. He just can't sit down for 5 min and talk to me like I'm a human being. It makes me want to hurt him....bad. I'm gonna change docs if I can.
Sorry for the rant... I see a beer iin my near future.

[Ajw78757]

Keep in mind you are paying them, not the other way around.
Even if some insurance company is paying them, it is in your behalf.

Don't feel like a second class citizen and tell your him what you need, and if he cannot provide it ask your doctor if you should find another doctor who has time to answer your questions.

[rockymoe]

I feel blessed as I go to an office Full of Angels. They tell me to tell them if I need a break from work. I never feel rushed and I have direct #'s to the people I need to talk to!

[James10500]

Hang in there. Tx is hard mentally physically congrats on UND that's the important thing.  Not that your jobisnt but a big picture UND most !

[belle19]

i love that comment.  good one.  belle

[eureka254]

Yes, whine is an excellent replacement for beer. :)

[belle19]

congrats on your UND!!!  don't ever be ashamed for whining.  we all feel that way at times.  you can always vent to us and we won't criticize you.  best wishes.  belle

[Willy50]

Vertigo is not a common result of TX but I've seen it a number of times with individuals on TX.

A ENT worth their salt should be able to attribute it to TX.  I'm not sure that there is a cure for it though

I would also suggest before they deny your claim that they call and ask Pegaysy or Pegintron help line if this could be a result of TX.  It is not one of the most common but I would venture they will admit that it is a TX side effect.  With luck they may also be able to share what has worked for people.

best,
Willy

[flcyclist]

lol, no comment.........

[halbev]

Him I would think! He has to sleep sometime

[halbev]

Which treatment are you on ? I was on Interferon / ribavirin for 20 months got kind of used to the dizziness after awhile, after blacking out one day, walking to a chair woke up on my face, learned to sit down quickly and no matter where I would just sit down in the middle of anywhere rather then fall. My WBC was causing it to happen 1.6 for months and yes bacteria is not your friend at all. At that point.
Got a 6 month break and now in week 8 of Incivek, Interferon, ribavirin and getting a little dizziness like before seems to be when I exert myself a little to much, but my WBC is up 3.2 so I do not think it is the WBC this time, I think it is the Incivek! That is why I asked.

Oh Ya I also went UND at week 4  

[eureka254]

"my wife now feels safe in using real forks and knives, rather than plastic sporks"
--------------
Hmm. Safer for her... or for you?

[flcyclist]

At 5 weeks the Riba has taken it's grip and you're feeling it.  At ~ 5 weeks my Hgb was 12.7, but I sure did feel the difference from the start.  I didn't get too dizzy, but I did have to back off normal efforts to take things a bit easier.  The emotional roller coaster can catch you by surprise.  Simple things can trigger an emotional response.  If it begins to concern you, do as suggested with the AD's.  Also, as lynda mentioned, my mood swings have leveled out around that 12 week period and my wife now feels safe in using real forks and knives, rather than plastic sporks, ;)  

You'll have more rough days and it's ok to vent.  And congrats on that 4 week UND!  Keep it going.

[frijole]

fullpin
I have had a touch of the dizzys lately and am only on week 2.  I went to visit my sister in the mountains of North Carolina and she ran me up and down a couple of mountains.  I was panting and dizzy but I am sure my hemoglobin is still fine.  I consider these first 12 weeks an adjustment period for the meds.  It takes the body a long time to  consider treatment the normal, but (unfortunately) it does become so.  I have also had a touch of the tears lately, very untypical for me but oh so typical of ribavirin.

I am glad the forum shook your tree.  Congrats on your 4 week UND.

[lynda607]

Good job fullpin, save the brewski for after you complete tx.  Anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds can help with the anger issues.  It's not unusual for people who are treating to cry for no apparent reason.  They feel bad much of the time and that's frustrating in of itself not to mention the effect of the tx meds have on the chemicals in the brain.  You may level out around week 12, once your body becomes accustomed to the interferon and ribavirin but if you notice your moods are becoming increasingly worse, take something for it.

Congrats on the UND -  that's a big one!    

[fullpin]

I was just kidding about the beer guys. I think I'm just having ribo-rage today. It just seems like it would be a pretty wild coincidence that anything but my hepc tx could be causing this since its never happened before, but I agree the #'s aren't there.

Curiouslady1- once again you've shook something loose in my confused mind. For the past week I've been breaking into tears like an 8 yr old girl a couple times a day for no apparent reason I could see, except maybe the pure frustration of not being able to trust my own judgement and thinking on important and difficult matters. Maybe I'm depressed.

Actually I'm ashamed for whining. I just found out I'm UND after five weeks..I should be happy. Thx for the comebacks guys....

[curiouslady1]

Oh, and I agree with the idea that a new doc may be helpful if you are in the position to go looking.

[curiouslady1]

You don't need to have low anything to go on disability.  Go to a decent psychologist or psychiatrist and they will help you.  Anger is also a manifestation of depression as well as many physical symptoms whther or not there is physical evidence behind them.  In addition, you could use the support while you recover from these meds. and, by the way, DON'T DRINK!!!

[lynda607]

HGB is robust enough and the other numbers look like a typical hammering from the treatment meds.  I agree with willbb that the doctor could not make a recommendation of disability based on those numbers but there is either an underlying problem causing the dizziness or unfortunately you are very sensitive to the medications and that is how they are effecting you.  If the ENT doesn't help, maybe a hematologist can.

  

[spectda]

Low white blood cells and especially ANC (absolute neutrophil count),  the white cells that fight bacterial infection would not cause fatigue and they are not low enough to cause infections.

Low platelets would also not cause fatigue, they could possibly cause you to bleed more easily but they are really not low enough to do that.

Good luck,
Dave

[eureka254]

We're gonna have to put that beer on the top floor and break the elevator, fullpin.
For everything you're going through and now an undetected to boot :D!...don't blow it now on a beer, fer crissakes.  

You hemoglobin #s look good, so your dizziness most likely isn't anemia-induced... actually, hellboy or not, the doc sending you to an ENT isn't such a bad idea. If you're prone to ear infections or the like, treatment can exacerbate that ... especially in light of your WBC numbers... better safe than sorry and make sure you haven't got something bubbling (that isn't beer I hear, is it?!?) in the ear canal making you woozy.

Know what you mean about the docs, though.. my husband had one that had such a heavy accent, you couldn't understand the regular words, never mind the medical jargon... and unfortunately, bedside manner isn't a prerequisite for the job these days... but hang in there.  Don't pick up any of those sharp instruments at the next visit, either... treatment is hard enough without having to spend any of it in lock-up.  

Keep your eye on the undetected, and get yourself to that ENT... maybe they'll be easier to understand ;).  Take care! ~eureka

[aj7538]

Get yourself a new dr. this tx requires spending a lot of time with your dr. and if you cant relate to him you have a huge problem. Another dr will help make any changes necessary to make you feel better. This tx is hard enough .you need to really relate to your dr.good luck aj

[spectda]

Your platelets are a little low but you HGB and whites are not bad at all and are not indicative of fatigue in themselves. The treatment in meds can cause fatigue, but I don't know what your doc could medically do for you based on the information provided.

Regardless it sounds like you need a different doctor if you are uncomfortable with him. I would imagine you are clear that drinking with hep c and especially while on tx is a very poor solution to your stress. Many people take anti-depressants during treatment which might be a better alternative for you, but it's your life.

Good luck with everything and congrats on being undetectable
-Dave

[suezeeque]

Whether or not the meds are causing you to be dizzy, you need to be comfortable with your doctor.  If you aren't, time to start looking.  Good luck and I second the congrats on the UND.  :D

[ann61]

I highly recommend that you try to find a new doc.  I feel pretty strongly that it is indeed the meds that are causing your dizziness.  While your hemoglobin isn't bad, your white cell count and platelets are low.

Good luck and keep us posted.